Rail joint



N. lm 1924.

' s. A. HOGE RAIL JOINT Filed April 23,

smsen-. noon, or arcas tannins, rnnivsvtvaivra.

am. rome.

Application led April 23, 1923. Serial No. 633,993.

To all whom t 'mayv concern: y

Be it known that I, SMITH A. Hoon, a citizen of the United States, residingat Rices Landing, in the county of Greene and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain ne-w and useful Improvementsin Rail Joints, of which the following isa specification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in rail joints, and important objects thereof are to provide a joint of thetype stated, embodying novel means for joining the rails together; which will interlock with the ends of the railsA to assure their alignment; vwhich will lock adjacent rails against longitudinal movement ;V which may be readily and conveniently attached in position to the rails, and which maybe incorporated in a tie element to prevent spreading of the rails.

Further objects-of the invention are to provide a rail joint of the class described, which is simple in its construction and arrangement, strong, durable and efiicient in its use, positive in its action, and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination 'and arrangement. of partsherein specifically described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications can be resorted to which come within the scope of the claim hereunto appended.

ln the drawing wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout the several views Figure 1 is a perspective transverse scctional view of my improved rail joint attached to a rail.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the base member.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the fish plate.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the rail having a serrated flange to adapt it for use in connection with my improved joint.

Figure 5 is a top plan view illustrating the adaptation of my improved device to provide a tie element.

Referring in detail to the drawing 1 denotes a base plate formed integrally with a pair of spaced parallel extending lugs 2 and 3, respectively. vThe base plate 1 is preferably rectangular in contour and is `provided with a plurality of apertures 4 adapted for the passage of sp-ikes for securing the base plate to a rail road tie of the usual construction. j Each of the lugs 2 and 3 extends throughout th-e width Aof the base plateV 1 and has its inner face formedgwith a respective longitudinally disposed groove 5, 6, for the purpose hereinafter referred to. j y

rihe lower portion of the inner face ofthe lug 2, providing the lower wall of its groove 5, is 'formed to constitute a toothed or serrated edge 7 while the corresponding portion 7 of the inner face lof the lugw is straight or on an even plane throughout.

Each of the rails 8,. adapted to vbe connected by my improved rail joint, has the end portion of oneside of-fits flange- 9 constructed to provide a serrated edge 10,:w`hich `latter engages in the corresponding, edge 7 on the inner face of the lug 2 when the rail 8 is mounted on the base plate 1. The

`distance between the lug portions 7 and 7 is commensurate to the width of the rail flange 9.

In making rail connections, the adjoining ends of the rails 8 are positioned 0n the base plate 1 so that each extends one-half thereacross. It will here be noted that the serrated edges 10 of the adjacent rail flanges 9, and the interlocking serrated edge 7 of the lug 2 are preferably disposed to position them on the outer side of the rail 8. This arrangement, for obvious reasons, facilitates the laying of the rails 8, but the serrated edges of the rail flanges and lug may be disposed to position same at either side of the rail 8 to best meet conditions found in practice.

When the ends of the rails 8 have been placed in position on the base 1 as above describedq they are securely clamped to the base 1 by means of a pair of fish plates 11, one of which is positioned at each side of the rail 8; Each of the fish plates 11 is formed with a pluralityof perforations 12', provided for the passage of the securing bolts 13. y

Each of the fish plates 11 is formed with an angularly disposed portion 12, the toe of which engages in the groove 5, and 6, of respective lugs 2 and 3, as clearly indicated at 14 in :Figure 1, of the drawing. When the fish plates 11 are drawn against the web of the rail by means of the bolts 13, which f ported rail union,-ivhich may be' quickly and conveniently fixed in position upon the yrails f Y a wFi'gure5,- of the drawing, illustratesthe application -ofnmy improved devicer to provide atie element to also prevent the spreading of the rails'.` Inthis construction, vaii elongated basevl( is provided, having each yend thereofconstructed to permit ofthe rail attachment thereto in `a n manner identical to that herein before described. Each end or" the ibase lt'is` formed with a pair of lugs 18, and one of each pair of lugs is provided with aserrated edge -19 on its inner facefto engage the liangefs of the rails 8. I

In'railroadv construction the parallel'extending rails Yare 'preferably arranged in staggered relation with respect to each other,

that is, the end of one rail extends to about the center of the adjacent parallel rail. Owin to this arrangement of the rails, the use o my improved device as a tie element would necessitate the forming of a serrated edge 20 on that portion of the rail directly opposed to a rail joint on the parallel rails. By the use of the elongated base 17 and associated parts engaging both rails of the track, as above described, a tie element is established which Will prevent liabilityv of rail spreading and in' consequence reduce accidents from such cause to a minimum. What I claim is v- The 'combination Witlia pair of rail ends to be connected and having serrated ange edges, of a rail Joint comprising a base plate formed With a pair ofy spaced lugs, each of said lugs provided with a longitudinally extending groove on its inner face, a fish plate engaging in each of said grooves for clamping said rail ends to said base plate, the inner face of the outer positioned lug below thc groove therein being formed to provide a serrated edge adapted to interlock ivith serrated flange edges,subst`antially as described and for the purpose set forth. i

In testimony whereof I aHiX my signature.

sMiTrij A. Hoen. 

